Andy Garcia | Vice President • Ad2 Denver

I love the community around it. Although a lot of people don't necessarily realize it, we really do so much in the ad community and it's super important to give back in some way. This gives me an outlet to give back to the ad scene that's been (relatively) kind to me and do some good outside of it with our Public Service campaign. Aside from that, it has really given me a chance to flex my own personal leadership and organizational skills. Managing this monster isn't always easy, but it's been a super valuable learning experience that I could not be happier I took on.

Best industry advice you've ever received?

Fake it 'til you make it. I know there are a lot of people that would disagree and say that it's bad advice/policy, but I wholeheartedly believe in this piece of advice. If I hadn't thrown myself up for challenges where I may have "stretched the truth" about my capability that exact second, I wouldn't have done NEARLY the amounts of things that I've done in my career up until now. And that's the way I look at it: it's not a lie and it's not throwing yourself under the bus, it's a challenge for yourself to learn the things you've just promised and, really, it's one of the best ways to grow and learn outside of your normal professional day-to-day. Most people are too lazy to learn extra skills, but if you HAVE TO, it's much easier to find that motivation. ;)

Current favorite ad campaign?

This is pretty damn good. I love anything with wit, humor, good writing and a dash of tongue-in-cheek self-reflexivity.

Favorite TV show to binge-watch?

Futurama. Especially the first 4 seasons. It's actually pretty pathetic how often I watch this show (read: every day). The writing and humor are so brilliant. You often times have to really read into the jokes and I love the fact that they make fiercely complex math/physics jokes on a regular basis. I honestly think it was a really telling precursor to advertising growing up because the writing is often staged similarly to how one would write an ad. Fun fact: If I watch the show with someone and they don't laugh at the "smart" jokes (the ones you have to think about), I instantly assume that person isn't smart. It's a character flaw I'm working on...

Biggest brand crush?

Converse. I am fiercely loyal to the brand and, while I may not always wear it, the Chuck Taylor is the ultimate iconic shoe in my mind. I also really love what the brand has turned into since Nike bought it. They finally understand their audience (read: geeks like me. And some really cool musicians and creatives that are much cooler than me) and really work to actually serve them in tangible ways. It's the best example of a brand connecting and not only interacting with their users, but really living with them. Got a lot of <3 for that company.

Favorite Ad2 event?

NEXT. It would make sense that a two-time alum of the program would say that, but I think it is one of the best things we do as a club. Advertising is a hard code to break and it's really amazing to be ale to help people Zimmerman Telegram that shit. It's always extremely heart-breaking for me to see a super talented young creative give up cause they can't get their foot in the door, so helping in tangible ways that simple advice couldn't deliver on is amazing.

Jen Merrigan | Treasurer • Ad2 Denver

Really anything with crime and serial killers (not sure what that says about me)... but currently Scandal.

Best part about being in Ad2?

The people. I joined Ad2 when i moved to Denver two years ago to meet people in the industry and get more connected to the advertising scene in Colorado. Not only have a met some great friends, but I've also made great connections for my job and been to many great events.

Best career advice you've ever received?

In my first agency job, my boss was giving me my first 6-month review. She told me she was impressed that I spoke up in meetings, contributed and wasn't afraid share my opinions with the partners and agency veterans. Her advice was not to get cocky or pushy, but to continue staying involved because it showed both clients and the internal team how enthusiastic and knowledgeable I was about the work we were doing.

Tell us your most embarrassing moment.

I fall a lot, so there are plenty of stories there, but my truly most embarrassing moment happened in high school. I pulled my backpack on at the end of the day, not realizing the bottom of my skirt got caught on my bag. I walked through the entire school, with my skirt basically around my waist. I had probably been past half the school before a good friend finally caught me and told me about my mishap.

Lexi Nichols | Board Manager • Ad2 Denver

I've been lucky enough to have lived in five different countries: Philippines, Hong-Kong, Austria, England and the USA. While in Austria I learned to speak fluent German, which was one of the best (and hardest) things I've ever done.

Biggest brand crush?

OK, call me cliché, but I've always had the biggest crush on the Coca-Cola brand. They are the reason I fell in love with advertising long before I was old enough to even think about it being a career choice. Coke is exceptional at harnessing the power of creativity while still holding on to the brand's personality. Their brand continuity is flawless and they are always one step ahead of their competition when it comes to new media and communication channels. The brand has a gift of connecting with their audience and has always been an inspiration to me.

Favorite Denver/Boulder nightlife spot?

The ones where I can get a cheap vodka soda, draws a great crowd, and gives me the option to hold dance-offs with my friends after having enough cheap vodka sodas.

Best part about being in Ad2?

I've gained so much experience in such a short time. The club really allows its board members to grow; not only by giving them the chance to network with other professionals, but also by giving free reign on the position they hold within it. The club really pushes you into the deep end, but you already know how to swim.

Favorite things about Colorado?

It makes you use both the car's heating and A/C in one day, it allows the option to ski in a t-shirt, and it's always first when it comes to legalization.

Katie Deuschle | Programs Lead • Ad2 Denver

Gilmore Girls. No contest. I have probably watched the entire series at least 12 times, and I am not at all ashamed to admit that - it never gets old. "Oy with the poodles already!" is a common phrase for me.

Current favorite ad campaign?

The Honda Fit commercials by RPA. I love the fast talking spokesperson, and the way the car can appeal to the quirkiest of customers. Its simple but witty, and I catch myself laughing out loud everytime it comes on. Plus, who wouldn't like a car that can fit a centaur, amirite?

Favorite social media account to follow?

@annariflebond on Instagram. I love all things calligraphy and am a sucker for florals. This account feels like the ideal mix of personal branding and company promotion, and inspires me to become a monarch, or read Anne of Green Gables.

Biggest brand crush?

Coca-Cola is such a massive brand, so I feel a little cliche saying it is my brand crush. It's a brand that makes me feel nostalgic for those 1950's Americana days, and also feels just as relevant and modern today. It's a brand that is versatile - I imagine coke on a summer picnic, and also on the ice with a polar bear. Coca-Cola is the definition of classic.

Favorite city?

Paris. Because there is literally no place in the world more romantic. Espresso and macaroons while admiring the Eiffel Tower and wearing french bres? Yes and yes.

Best part of being in Ad2?

Ad2 is what sparked my passion for advertising, and made me excited to go out into the real world and work. The people are so friendly and genuinely want to help you learn and succeed. I have learned so much about the world of advertising since joining Ad2 and have made some great friends. I am so inspired by the creative professionals around me, and consider myself so lucky to be on the team!

Unique hobby?

Drinking lots and lots of coffee. It's more of a talent really.

Chelsey Davis | Public Service Lead • Ad2 Denver

What’s not to love about Colorado? Being an Arizona gal, I've never really had the opportunity to experience all four seasons like I have here in CO. I love being outside and in Colorado, there’s an activity for every season! Also, breweries are great during every season as well. ;)

Favorite read?

I must say, I was a sucker for Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest). I’d never been so excited for a movie to be made (American version) based on a book, aside from Harry Potter of course!

Current favorite ad campaign?

This might not be the most current, but I really loved Nike’s “Make it Count” campaign, specifically the video that went viral featuring Casey Neistat and Max Joseph. Casey received money from Nike to create a commercial for the Nike FuelBand, but instead used the money to travel the world. It was a bold move, but completely encompasses the meaning of the slogan. The YouTube video now has over 12,000,000 views!

Tell us something surprising about you.

I took the LSAT after I graduated from ASU and was planning on going to law school at CU Boulder. I did a complete 180 and realized a creative/marketing environment was more my style and not so much the suits and corporate offices of attorney life…

Favorite Ad2 event?

Kegs with Legs! I love how some agencies get really into it, making it very unique to the agency’s personality.

Mary Ericson | Public Service Officer • Ad2 Denver

One of my favorite shows of all time is Friends, and I could happily spend a weekend watching the entire series. In true Ad2 style, Mad Men is another of my binge-worthy shows.

Best career advice you've ever received?

My grandpa always gave me the advice growing up that, "The harder you work, the luckier you'll get." I've found that to be true in many aspects of my life. Don't wait for your dreams to come to you; work hard to make them happen and everything will fall into place.

Favorite city?

Edinburgh, Scotland is my favorite city in the world. Everything from the stone architecture to the beautiful bay, to the foggy mornings is just so... Scottish! It's beautiful.

Favorite Denver/Boulder nightlife spot?

I'm a craft beer junky, so I frequent a number of breweries around town. One of my favorite "weeknight" hangouts is the Lowry Beer Garden. It's a great, low-key bar outdoors.

Favorite thing about the advertising industry?

There are a bunch of things I love about the ad industry, but I think my favorite is the people. There's such a diverse group of individuals in advertising, and it's great learning from one another. Likewise, in my position as a media planner, I'm able to be creative, analytical, and everything in between.

Sarah Tate | Public Service Officer • Ad2 Denver

Eat, Pray, Love. The first time I read it was the first time I went to Italy, and I have read it four times since. I definitely get something new out of it every time. "To travel is worth any cost or sacrifice".

Favorite TV show to binge-watch?

The Blacklist. James Spader is a badass. My boyfriend and I watched the entire first season in two days. #TVbinge

Favorite city?

San Francisco. I went for the first time on my 18th birthday, and fell in love. My goal in life is to have a house in Sausalito overlooking the bay. Someday.

Unique hobby?

Equestrian sports. I will forever be known by my friends as "the horse girl.”

Best industry advice you’ve ever received?

Under-promise, over-deliver. There is nothing more important than managing client expectations.

Joey Dryer | Public Service Officer • Ad2 Denver

Favorite TV show of all time is Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I have seen every episode multiple times and once made a pilgrimage to Patty’s Pub. Also I think Sweet Dee is hilarious, especially the “Scammin” scene when she gets audited.

Favorite read?

I really do not read that much but recently on a plane trip I found a copy of World War Z by Max Brooks in my seat pocket. I read through about half of it on that flight alone and finished it that night. I am now completely scared by Ebola.

Best part about being in Ad2?

My favorite part of working with the Ad2 is being a part of such a motivated creative team. Everyone comes from different agencies and backgrounds so input is very diverse and original. Along with this being apart of the Public Service Team it is a great feeling to know we are helping out a local cause and effecting the community around us in a positive manner.

Favorite thing about Colorado?

My favorite part about living in Colorado is being so close to the mountains. I grew up in the flatlands of Minnesota and always knew I would live somewhere where I can explore, climb, hike, and ride. Denver is perfect for me because I can live and play in the city but whenever things get stressful I can hop in my car and drive an hour to the great outdoors.

Best advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I have ever received was from my first manager at my first job out of school. He told me, “Do not create your own obstacles”. It is easy, especially at work, to ask a lot of the people around us. This advice has helped me pinpoint what is important and how to get to an end goal in an efficient way. Along with this allowing people the chance to really respond often times drives my own creativity in new ways.

Diana Barsan |Communications Co-Lead • Ad2 Denver

Marketing Communications Manager at DMAR

Describe yourself in five words or less.

Idea Instigator & Problem Solving Junkie

Favorite read?

Roberto Bolaño - 2666

Elena Ferrante - My Brilliant Friend Series

& anything by George Saunders

Favorite thing about Colorado?

The abundance of drug-free double rainbows.

Favorite TV show to binge-watch?

Bord to Death

Tell us something surprising about you.

I had a very happy childhood in the world’s unhappiest country.

Matt Sewick | Communications Co-Lead • Ad2 Denver

My boss is a legendary storyteller and long story short, my best advice came from an instance where a server gave this one table terrible service as he was frantic getting ready for the “son of a bitch” owner to come in. Well, you can infer the rest. The point is, “always know who you are talking to.”

Favorite thing about Colorado?

The sunshine and weather. It really affects all the other great things the state has to offer. Hiking, skiing, workdays, Sunday fun days—none of it would be the same without that great ball of fire.

Biggest brand crush?

Warby Parker, hands down. Their home try-on offering and global social campaign add some extra zing to a great brand with great products.

Who is your role model?

My mother. All that I am today is from her with my creative passion to my humble personality. She was always there—at snowing track meets, when I came out, put me through college—and did it all as a single mother.

Favorite TV show to binge-watch?

Scandal. It gives you an inside (and hyper-exaggerated) look into the political world where nothing is black and white. Not to mention, shows us all that careers take extreme dedication, making a few enemies, but always staying true to yourself. Oh, and I also think I could totally rock a white pant suit.

Niki Hale | Communications Officer • Ad2 Denver

Well, I may or may not have just finished re-reading the Harry Potter series for the sixth or seventh time, so I suppose that counts as my literary obsession. I also regularly revisit Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I’ve recently become obsessed withAudible audiobooks to chew up my commute to work, however, and I have a feeling I’ll soon be discovering some new favorites!

Biggest brand crush?

Call me cliché, but I’m a huge Geico lover! It always fascinates me that an insurance company blows so many other more creative brands out of the water with their witty and hilarious commercials; kudos to the Geico advertising team, because they’re continually setting the bar higher for supposedly “boring” brands. Here’s one of myfavorites.

Best career advice you’ve ever received?

I’m lucky enough to call my dad my greatest mentor, and he’s imparted plenty of wisdom over the years, but a few tidbits particularly stand out. My favorite: the greatest thing you can ever do for yourself if learn how to learn. Learning doesn’t end when school does, and being quick on the uptake as well as hungry for knowledge can make or break your career.

Favorite social media account to follow?

On an industry-related note,Adweek is an enjoyable advertising and creative account to follow on Twitter that pushes interesting and relevant content. On a more humorous note,Common White Girl on Twitter andfuckjerry on Instagram are totally inappropriate and therefore always make me laugh.

Favorite Ad2 event?

Is that even a question?Kegs with Legs, baby! I love the opportunity to check out Denver and Boulder agencies because they are each so unique, and I’ve met so many great friends and contacts through the program—highly recommended, especially for college students and post-grads seeking to expand their network.

Dan Bombard | Communications Officer • Ad2 Denver

I love lifestyle brands and companies that create a culture around their brand. Carhartt WIP does a good job of this in Europe. Levi's does a good job of this in the states. We are seeing a lot of this type of branding with craft breweries, too. New Belgium Brewing does a good job of creating culture around their products.

Favorite read?

I am admittedly obsessed with the "Ender's Game" series by Orson Scott Card. I read Ender's Game when I was in my 6th grade literature class. I didn't come back to the series until very recently and was hooked. I am also a sucker for Harry Potter.

Favorite TV show to binge-watch?

Seinfeld, The Simpsons, The Office, and Arrested Development are mainstays. I have recently been getting a kick out of watching TV shows from when I was a kid. I recently watched an entire season of Even Stevens in one sitting.

Favorite social media account to follow?

My favorite social account to follow is Humans of New York. The guy running the blog has conversations with strangers of all walks of life in NYC and takes photos of them. He shares one photo and one excerpt from their conversation. Sometimes sad, sometimes hilarious—it is always incredibly eye opening.

Current favorite ad campaign?

Sukle Ad & Design always runs creative campaigns—and typically they are for a good cause. I was impressed with their recent campaign to deter teens from smoking pot. The campaign was funded by the nonprofit American Legacy Foundation, uses human-size rat cages, and sports the tagline "don't be a lab rat".

Favorite Denver/Boulder nightlife spot?

Perhaps not my "favorite", but a notable spot is Sobo151 on Broadway—its a Czech hockey bar. They serve excellent Czech beers (i.e. Krusovice, Pilsner Urquell, Budvar) and its definitely the best spot to catch an Avalanche game. They also serve this Czech liqueur called "Becherovka"—it tastes like Christmas.

Mandy Muszynski | Membership Lead • Ad2 Denver

Seinfeld, The Office, and Grey's Anatomy are my main shows. I love just sitting on the couch and getting engulfed in the over-dramatic drama and having these shows make me laugh my ass off. Also, the fact that I use the humor from these shows to reflect things in my everyday life. A lot of people don't get my jokes unless they watch these shows, so I end up looking like a weirdo sometimes.

Best part about being in Ad2?

The best part about being in Ad2 is the people. Meeting people who work in the same industry as you and can relate to your day-to-day work problems but can see a different point of view than yours. I love bouncing ideas off people and see how they do things at their agency or business. It gives you a new perspective .

Favorite thing about Colorado?

I moved here in December of 2013, and I would have to say my favorite thing about Colorado thus far would have to be the outdoor culture. I love that there are so many activities to do outside like hiking, skiing, farmers markets, street fairs, etc... I really enjoy the fact that you can do so many different things. Also, the fact you can do city things then drive 30 minutes and go do things in the mountains. The opportunities are endless.

Danielle Mason | Education Lead • Ad2 Denver

Right now, definitely S'well water bottles. There's a couple of great industry articles about the company, which makes very pricey stainless steel bottles and partners with a bunch of charities around the world that bring fresh water to areas in need. The founder and CEO, Sarah Kauss, has been very picky about what other companies are allowed to sell her bottles, while expanding her own line carefully. It's a really neat story!

A must-have of the moment?

Fruit-infusing water bottles! My new favorite thing ever - I'm on my third or fourth already. You can change up the flavors every day and never get bored. Or chapstick—like the EOS ones. I think I have 6.

Favorite read?

I recently got into the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry. A lot of mystery, a little history, a little conspiracy theory; it's a great mix of classic spy and intrigue. I borrowed the whole set and read them on vacation!

Favorite TV show to binge-watch?

Criminal Minds—they just put every season on Netflix, so I binge-watch while cleaning. I think I've seen every episode multiple times by now, but it's still a fantastic show.

Best part about being in Ad2?

The people! As a freshman in college, I asked a friend in the industry what I should do in college and beyond to start meeting people and figuring out what I want to do. He told me to join Ad2 and—four years later—definitely one of the best decisions ever. Every event brings together so many cool people and it's fantastic to meet and learn about different aspects of what we do.

Sami Stephenson | Creative Officer • Ad2 Denver

It's hard to choose just one because they're all so addicting. I guess I've watched the Entourage series enough to call it my favorite! No matter how many times I've seen it, I always find myself cracking up at the never-ending banter between Drama and Turtle.

Favorite thing about Colorado?

I love that there is always such a wide variety of things so do-I never ever find myself bored. I particularly enjoy the large amount of artists that come through the area, all of the hiking and the great people you meet along the way. Also, beer.

Best part about being in Ad2?

Hands down, my favorite part of Ad2 is the people. It's great to work with such a talented group of people that are passionate about advertising and marketing. Everyone in Ad2 is super cool and a blast to be around.

Favorite Ad2 event?

Kegs with Legs. I love meeting all of the young professionals in the industry and seeing what fun activities or decorations the event host comes up with. Always a good time.

Favorite city?

Of the places I’ve visited, which is a short list compared to everywhere I need to go, my favorite city it New Orleans. The combination of food, history, people and nightlife creates such an amazing vibe that I don’t think you can experience anywhere else.